Kidnappings via dating apps in Jalisco put US tourists on alert

The U.S. Consulate in Guadalajara, Mexico, has issued a warning to tourists in Jalisco urging them to be cautious when using dating apps. The consulate has recorded several reports of U.S. citizens being targeted by criminal groups on these platforms and tricked into meeting up. The travelers end up being kidnapped, and their families in the United States receive extortion calls demanding ransom payments.

The delegation indicated that reports of kidnapping and extortion have been filed in recent months, especially in the areas of Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Nayarit, the state’s coastal tourist gems. It did not specify how many cases involving the abduction of U.S. citizens they have identified, but stated that the kidnappers are demanding “large sums of money” from the victims’ families.

Jalisco’s security crisis affects the entire population, as well as tourists from the United States. The murder of former Jalisco governor Aristóteles Sandoval at a Puerto Vallarta restaurant in 2020 sent a clear message about who rules the area, regardless of its tourist hotspots. In fact, the most horrific crime scene was discovered at the beginning of the year, a cartel recruitment camp in Teuchitlán, just two hours from the Riviera Nayarit coast, where yachts and parasols line the sandy beaches. However, the latest citizen perception surveys on security rank Puerto Vallarta among the safest cities in the country, with only 23% of people reporting feeling unsafe.

The Consulate General has reminded travelers that the travel advisory for U.S. citizens in Jalisco is Level 3, meaning tourists are urged to “reconsider travel” to that destination due to security concerns, especially kidnappings. Among the recommendations for travelers in the area, authorities urge caution if using dating services such as Tinder, Bumble, or Grindr. These digital platforms for meeting people have become a security risk for users. Last Valentine’s Day, the Federal Consumer Protection Agency (Profeco) issued a series of precautions in response to the rise of deceptive strategies used by cybercriminals in Mexico, such as identity theft and fraud.

To make meetings safer, the U.S. Consulate recommends holding them in public places and avoiding isolated locations, such as hotel rooms or private residences, where “crimes are most likely to occur.” At the same time, the consulate recommends informing a friend or family member of your meeting plans, the location, details of the person you’ll be meeting with, and the app you used to meet them. “Trust your instincts. If something does not feel right, do not hesitate to remove yourself from a situation,” the document states.

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